Today is a day of rejoicing among Christians all over the world. Jesus Christ is risen! Our hearts are full of joy and hope. Today, our Bible Journaling Scripture doesn’t come from one of the Gospels as many would think, but from I Corinthians 15:17. I’m going to start with verse 16 and read to verse 19.
“For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (NASB)
The Apostle Paul is talking to the Corinthians about the resurrection. There were those in their assembly who were saying that there is no resurrection after death, and Paul was teaching about how there is life after death, either to eternal life or eternal death. He explained that if there is no resurrection, then Jesus did not rise again and neither would we, and there is no hope for any of us. But the fact that Jesus DID rise again proves that not only is there resurrection, but it proves that Jesus is the Son of God!
Our faith in Jesus is the foundation for our Christianity. We believe in His virgin birth, we believe in His sacrificial death on the Cross, we believe in His resurrection from the dead, and we believe He is alive forever and is coming back to get us to take us to be with Him in Heaven. These are the building blocks of our faith, the foundation upon which we build our faith.
The resurrection proves He is God because only God could bring life out of death. Some think that the accounts of His resurrection are just a myth. Then, how do you explain the fact that He appeared to over 500 people after He rose from the dead? (I Corinthians 15:6) Five hundred people are not going to conspire together to tell a lie. There would be someone who would not follow the crowd and speak the truth.
The resurrection not only proves Jesus is the Son of God, but it also gives hope and freedom from fear. When we accept Jesus’ atoning death on the cross and His resurrection, we have peace in our souls, peace that only He can give. (Philippians 4:7) We don’t have to fear death because Jesus conquered death, went to Hell, took the keys to sin, death, and the grave and defeated it. Satan no longer has control and we have nothing to fear. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:18 KJV) For me, that is reason enough to rejoice!
As we celebrate our Risen Lord, take a moment to say, “Thank You!” A chorus we haven’t sung in our church for a while says it all, “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed Someone to take my sins away. And now I sing a brand-new song, Amazing Grace. Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay!”
Thank You, Jesus!
donnasmusings 